Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Postgame Notes: Magic 109, Blazers 108

This one stings. Losing for the first time at the Rose Garden this season on a last-second shot is a tough pill to swallow. But hey, we can still go 40-1 at home.

By the way, anyone else think there should have been a full second left on the clock after Turkoglu's make? It seemed like they let a lot of time elapse off the clock after the shot went down. Then again, we didn't have a timeout, so it probably wouldn't have made much of a difference.

Here are the postgame note from tonight's game. Mad ups to communications intern Aaron for these nuggets of truth.

THAT-A-ROYBrandon Roy scored a Trail Blazers season-high 30 points, becoming the first Trail Blazer to reach the 30-point mark this season … Roy has scored 20-plus points in 15 games this season ... The third-year player has notched at least a share of the scoring lead for Portland in 15 contests and the assists high in 10 games.SERGIO SNAGS SEASON-HIGHSergio Rodriguez netted a season-high 14 points, including nine in the third quarter (6-6 FT).

HOME WINNING STREAK SNAPPEDPortland had won all seven of its home contests before falling to the Magic ... The Trail Blazers were one of only two teams with a perfect home mark entering tonight ... Cleveland (12-0) is now the NBA’s lone undefeated team at home.

CLOSE FALLThe Trail Blazers had won all four games decided by three or fewer points this season before dropping a one-point game to Orlando ... Portland had won eight such games in a row, dating back to last year, before tonight’s loss.ROAD TESTEDThe Trail Blazers have played a league-high 15 road games this season (8-7) ... Portland’s eight home games are tied for the league low (7-1).THIRD-QUARTER MAGICThe Magic scored a Trail Blazers opponent season-high 32 third-quarter points … Orlando hit more three-pointers (14) than any other Trail Blazers opponent this season … The Magic made nine three-pointers in the second half alone.ON THE REBOUNDAfter getting outrebounded, 44-34, on the glass in Orlando, Portland controlled the boards with a 44-29 advantage vs. the Magic in Portland.

L.A. ALL DAYLaMarcus Aldridge’s 25 points were just two off his season high of 27 ... The third-year forward has shot 67-for-118 from the field (56.8%) in the last eight games.

ONE TEAM ON THE BLOCKPortland held its opponent without a single block for the second time this season, while notching seven rejections of its own. The Trail Blazers now hold a 128-74 edge in blocked shots in 23 games on the year.

SWEET SIX Six Trail Blazers scored in double figures for the fourth time in 2008-09.DOWN AT HALFThe Trail Blazers trailed at halftime, 49-48, for only the second time at home all season … Minnesota led Portland, 49-43, at the break before Portland earned a 97-93 victory on Nov. 8.